Byrd, Davis forced to sit with injuries

Rangers pair eager to return to action this season

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

ANAHEIM -- Marlon Byrd was out of the lineup on Wednesday night with a strained right hip muscle but made it clear that he is not thinking about shutting it down for the final five games of the season.

"No!!" Byrd said, insisting on two exclamation points be added to his quote. "Not at all. I'm finishing this thing out."

Byrd had to leave Tuesday's game against the Angels in the first inning when he injured himself trying to run out a ground ball. He took a mean tumble past first base and had to be helped off the field. He reported improvement on Wednesday but said it's unlikely he'll play until the first game against the Mariners on Friday in Seattle.

"It's fine," Byrd said. "It's been pounding on me for a while, and last night, the soreness was too much."

First baseman Chris Davis was also out of the lineup with a strained left hamstring for the second straight game. He injured himself stretching for a throw on Monday against the Angels.

"It's still sore today, but I'm feeling a lot better," Davis said. "If I have to guess, I'd say today will be the last day I'm down."

Manager Ron Washington isn't as sure.

"It's not as sore today as yesterday, but that doesn't mean he can move on it," Washington said. "Those hamstrings are finicky."

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.